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TORONTO, Dec. 4, 2013 /CNW/ - Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) released a paper today setting out a set of first principles and
key issues that LAO believes are important to developing its Mental
Health Strategy.

"LAO plays a crucial role in empowering clients in the mental health
system," says John McCamus, Chair of LAO. "Our Mental Health Strategy
aims to improve access for a client group that is disproportionately
criminalized, incarcerated, impoverished and under-housed."

Research shows that as many as one in three legal aid certificates are
issued to a client with mental health and addiction issues. Over the
last 10 years, there has been a 44 per cent increase in the number of
Ontario Review Board hearings and a 25 per cent increase in the number
of Consent and Capacity Board hearings. This is at the same time that
fewer lawyers are willing and qualified to represent clients with
mental illness.

The purpose of this consultation paper, LAO's Mental Health Strategy Discussion Paper, is to discuss how best to:

develop community-based and outreach-based services

strengthen the capacity of other service providers including community
legal clinics and private lawyers

proactively support clients' legal needs through early access and
holistic practice models

Camille Quenneville, CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association,
Ontario, says, "We applaud LAO for its commitment to consult widely and
create a mental health strategy that will have a positive impact for
the people it serves. We believe LAO's strategy can help improve access
to justice for the significant portion of people with mental health
issues who turn to legal aid for help."

Barbara Hall, Chief Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission
(OHRC), says, "Preventing discrimination against Ontarians with mental
health disabilities and improving access to justice are critically
important tasks. That was made clear by the OHRC's province-wide
consultation on human rights, mental health and addictions. Legal Aid
Ontario's Mental Health Strategy discussion paper is a big step forward
in helping ensure people with mental health issues are treated fairly
in our justice system."

Over the next couple of months, LAO will be conducting in-person and
online consultation sessions with mental health and justice experts
throughout the province to ensure a broad and thorough consultation.